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Justyna Jupowicz-Kozak

CEO of Professional Science Editing for Scientists @ prosciediting.com

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participants's

Grammar usage guide and real-world examples

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "participants's" is not correct in written English.
The correct form should be "participants'" to indicate possession for plural nouns ending in "s." Example: "The participants' feedback was invaluable to the study."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

The analysis of the narratives uncover issues of identity and power, in the shaping of the participants's practice and professional trajectories.

When researchers reproduced similar levels of chemicals in human subjects in the lab, they observed a "large" change in the study participants's willingness to take on risk.

News & Media

Los Angeles Times

Most respondents identified a desire to benefit participants's health (63%) and respect for participants's; desires for information (57%) as major motivations for returning results.

Calculation was as follows: = N° of parasites counted/WBC counted × WBC count/μL of participants's whole blood [ 23].

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

If readers haven't seen Participant's work, that's a good place to start.

News & Media

Huffington Post

It's the participant's assets".

News & Media

The New York Times

'This,' Bindrim asserted, gesturing to a participant's genitalia and anus, 'is where it's at.

News & Media

Vice

She quoted from one participant's representative response: "We kiss.

On a given trial, each box was placed on the participant's palm in succession.

News & Media

The Guardian

(In every participant's defense, the songs are all shrunk to less than two minutes).

News & Media

The New Yorker

Company lawyers may fear the potential for a multimillion-dollar lawsuit in every participant's disappointment.

News & Media

The New York Times
Show more...

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the correct possessive form for plural nouns. "Participants'" indicates possession by multiple participants, while "participant's" indicates possession by a single participant.

Common error

Avoid using "participants's" as it's grammatically incorrect. Remember that the possessive form for plural nouns ending in 's' is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the 's'.

Antonio Rotolo, PhD - Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Antonio Rotolo, PhD

Digital Humanist | Computational Linguist | CEO @Ludwig.guru

Source & Trust

80%

Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Linguistic Context

The phrase "participants's" is an attempt to form a possessive noun phrase. However, it is grammatically incorrect. Ludwig AI indicates the correct possessive form for a plural noun like "participants" is "participants'" while "participant's" indicates the singular possessive.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

60%

News & Media

40%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "participants's" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. As Ludwig AI points out, the correct possessive form for plural nouns ending in 's' is formed by adding only an apostrophe after the 's', resulting in "participants'". While the intended meaning is to show possession or association, the incorrect grammar detracts from the clarity and professionalism of the writing. Use "participants'" to indicate possession by multiple participants and "participant's" for a single participant. Remember to proofread carefully to avoid this common error.

FAQs

What is the correct way to show possession for multiple participants?

The correct way to show possession for multiple participants is to use "participants'", adding an apostrophe after the 's'.

Is "participants's" ever correct?

No, "participants's" is generally considered grammatically incorrect. The correct possessive form for plural nouns ending in 's' is "participants'".

What is the difference between "participant's" and "participants'"?

"Participant's" indicates possession by a single participant, while "participants'" indicates possession by multiple participants. For example, "the participant's feedback" versus "the "participants' feedback"".

What are some alternatives to using the possessive form with "participants"?

Alternatives include using "of the participants", such as "the feedback of the participants", or rephrasing to avoid the possessive altogether.

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Source & Trust

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Authority and reliability

1.8/5

Expert rating

Real-world application tested

Most frequent sentences: